Disadvantages-It can be difficult for a student to adjust to boarding school because she has been placed in completely new surroundings with unfamiliar people and circumstances. Time spent with family and friends from home becomes limited, which can make the transition seem harder. A personal life away from school is also difficult to maintain due to the high expectations of academic excellence in a typical boarding school. Also, extracurricular activities provided by the school often occupy a student's time after classes and on the weekends. And although rules and guidelines are needed to implement discipline in students, oftentimes a boarding school student must strictly adhere to even minor rules or risk expulsion.

-It is inadvisable to send a child to boarding school if it becomes obvious that he/she will have to repeat a year. In order to move forward to the next class, students must demonstrate the ability to study independently, show good work performance and pass their exams.-Boarding school should not be seen as a punitive measure for inappropriate behaviour or unsatisfactory study performance. Children who are rejected by their families and sent to a boarding school close themselves off from relationships with peers and teachers, which is not beneficial for either side.

-Boarding school is not recommended for children who are strongly attached to their families. There is a danger that through loneliness they may become frustrated and socially isolated.

Potentially Intensive Periods of Stress-When a child is spending all of his or her time at school, this can result in extreme periods of stress for children. Those with tendencies towards things like eating disorders or panic attacks may be driven on with this if someone else in their “group” at school is a sufferer. Of course, this can occur within day schools too but may be particularly intense within a boarding school environment. Likewise, during exam periods when all of the kids in a certain age group are feeling tense and concerned, this can rub off on other students to create a frenzied environment.

Missing Out on Home Life-When your child goes to boarding school there will inevitably be some ramifications on your home environment. It may be difficult for your child to adjust to being at home during the holidays; older children may argue with parents about their comparative lack of independence while at home. During the term time you will not be seeing your child as much as you would if they lived at home with you, and this will affect your relationship with your child, and potentially your other children too. You may also be less “in tune” with their lives, interests, hobbies, and friendships, likewise they may feel the same about the lives of friends and family at home.

Less Free Time and More Rules-With the extra academic and extra curricular opportunities at boarding school, children may have less time to be alone with their thoughts and personal interests. This might mean less time for things like reading, or, for

older children, having a part-time job or any of the other important developmental activities that can be offered to children living at home. Often the boarding school day is highly structured with lots of rules and regulations, which can lead to some children wanting to “rebel” against the grain. But obviously this depends on the individual school and the nature of your own child.

Making a Decision-It is important to consider both the advantages and disadvantages of boarding schools before you ultimately make a decision about where your child will be educated. Whatever his or her age, it is also important that your child is involved in the decision-making process too, since it is he or she who will be living with the everyday reality of this kind of education.

Boarding schools have some disadvantages. These include pupils being away from parents at a critical stage in their lives, exposure to bad company, growing distant from parents and family and adjusting to a new environment.

(a) Teenage Pupils being away from ParentsMost pupils who are in boarding school are between the ages of 13 and 18. This is a critical stage when the pupils are teenagers. Teenagers are at a stage when certain changes are taking place emotionally and physically within them. They are undergoing self-discovery. They need the close guidance of their parents and guardians. Some pupils miss out on the counsel and guidance of their parents. Teenage pupils in day schools have an advantage over their friends in boarding schools as they are with their parents or guardians on a daily basis.

(b) Exposure to Bad CompanySome pupils go to boarding schools as sweet and nice boys. They leave boarding schools as naughty boys having learnt bad habits such as smoking and drinking. What's the reason? It is because of exposure to bad company. If you are to survive in boarding school and come out as a useful pupil avoid bad company the way you would avoid contagious diseases.

(c) Growing distant from parents and familyA pupil in boarding school is normally at school for 9 months in a year. This leaves only 3 months for the pupil to be at home. The pupil is thus more of a guest in his home. The pupil becomes closer to boys and girls at their school than their brothers, sisters, guardians or parents at home. Parents tend to give their children from boarding school a special guest status when they are on holiday.

(d) Adjusting to a new environmentA pupil who goes to boarding school is in a new environment different from home. The pupil has to adjust to new school mates, new teachers and a new place. If the pupil is very far from home, the adjustment is made more difficult. Some pupils even lose weight as they adjust to new food and a new environment.